I have a SuperTreat septic system which waters my garden. Some plants
thrive, others don't. I'm wondering if this could be due to
phosphorous in dishwashing and laundry detergents?

tathraman wrote:
I have a SuperTreat septic system which waters my garden. Some plants
thrive, others don't. I'm wondering if this could be due to
phosphorous in dishwashing and laundry detergents?

I suppose it is possible but I wouldn't jump straight to that conclusion.
Another consideration is that cleansers (especially dishwasher detergent)
contain quite a lot of sodium carbonate (washing soda), this will raise the
pH and add sodium to the soil.

What area does the effluent get spread over?

How often do you do laundry and dishes?

Which plants do well and which do not?

Is there any sign that plants near drippers, emitters etc do better or
worse?

David

tathraman wrote:
I have a SuperTreat septic system which waters my garden. Some plants
thrive, others don't. I'm wondering if this could be due to
phosphorous in dishwashing and laundry detergents?

Which plants do which?

On Jan 2, 1:42*pm, "David Hare-Scott" wrote:
tathraman wrote:
I have a SuperTreat septic system which waters my garden. Some plants




What area does the effluent get spread over?
around 200 sq. metres

How often do you do laundry
twice weekly
and dishes?
about the same

I've given up on drippers as they always need cleaning out, despite
filters. Instead I have 5or 6 garden sprinkliers which do a fine job,

Which plants do well
WEEDS! pittosposrum, hymenosporum, melaleucas, callistemons, violets
(but they don't flower), lavender, clivea, agapanthus,camellia, agave,
hydrangea and hibiscus (middling).

and which do not?
azaleas

Hope this is what you need to know!

tathraman wrote:
On Jan 2, 1:42 pm, "David Hare-Scott" wrote:
tathraman wrote:
I have a SuperTreat septic system which waters my garden. Some
plants




What area does the effluent get spread over?
around 200 sq. metres


That's not much area. Is is boggy for much of the year?

How often do you do laundry
twice weekly
and dishes?
about the same


That doesn't seem a huge chemical load but it is on a fairly small area.

I've given up on drippers as they always need cleaning out, despite
filters. Instead I have 5or 6 garden sprinkliers which do a fine job,

Which plants do well
WEEDS! pittosposrum, hymenosporum, melaleucas, callistemons, violets
(but they don't flower), lavender, clivea, agapanthus,camellia, agave,
hydrangea and hibiscus (middling).

and which do not?
azaleas

Hope this is what you need to know!

Test the pH of the soil at the azalea, they like it quite acid.

D

"terryc" wrote in message
...
tathraman wrote:
I have a SuperTreat septic system which waters my garden. Some plants
thrive, others don't. I'm wondering if this could be due to
phosphorous in dishwashing and laundry detergents?

Which plants do which?
I used water from laundry to water fruit trees one year when we had a long
dry spell. Killed two mature persimmon trees. I was told by a bloke from the
dpi that phosphorous from the washing powder would do that.
Cheers,
Dan